Contini nets winner in overtime as FireAntz top RiverKings 4-3

Saturday

Feb 23, 2013 at 12:01 AMFeb 23, 2013 at 10:35 AM

Sammy Batten Staff writer

A night of struggles for the Fayetteville FireAntz ended in a positive fashion Friday at the Crown Coliseum.

Fayetteville surrendered two goals to the Mississippi RiverKings in the opening four minutes and spent most of the night playing catch-up. But the FireAntz kept battling and outlasted the RiverKings, 4-3, in overtime.

Ben Contini scored the game-winning goal with 1:47 left. It was an important victory, as the FireAntz (27-14-3) pulled to within one point of idle Louisiana atop the Southern Professional Hockey League standings.

"That's not typical of us at all,'' said Fayetteville center Bobby Reed, whose goal on a pass from Brandon Richardson 51 seconds into the third period tied the score at 3. "We got off to a slow start. There were a couple of bad bounces they capitalized on, and we were down two goals.

"All you can do in that situation is chip away. Focus on the first one (goal), focus on the second one and keep going. Tonight was just a character win for us.''

Mississippi (18-21-7) and Fayetteville had only met once this season, with the RiverKings taking a 5-4 victory at home Jan. 3. They stunned the FireAntz on Friday when Matt Whitehead and Kevin Willer netted two quick goals on Kyle Rank.

But Fayetteville bounced back when SPHL scoring leader Josh McQuade produced his 36th goal on a breakaway 6:02 into the first period. Derek Elliott knotted the score at 2 at the 2:54 mark.

Chris Campanale put Mississippi back on top 3-2 late in the second period before Reed tied it in the third with his 13th goal of the season.

The teams appeared headed for a shootout before Contini struck for his sixth goal on assists by Elliott and defenseman Andrew Smale.

"I think we have a pretty strong lineup for the shootout, but we were happy to finish this in overtime,'' Contini said. "I think I had some luck on my side on the shot. But you take them any way you can.''

After a rough start, Rank finished with 43 saves in his third straight game in goal.

The FireAntz and RiverKings will tangle again at 7:30 tonight at the Crown.

Staff writer Sammy Batten can be reached at battens@fayobserver.com or 486-3534.

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